You are here

Staff Members

Colin Achilles is a Program Associate and Assistant to the Chief of Staff for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where he works on various projects and initiatives, primarily focusing on the political process behind fiscal policy. Prior to joining the Committee, he worked for federal and state officeholders from Virginia, as well as a nonprofit organization specialized in tax and spending issues. Colin received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Flagler College, and his master’s degree in Political Management from The George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management. He is originally from Flint Hill, Virginia. Contact him at achilles@crfb.org.

Matt Bylis is the Communications Assistant for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where he works on research, writing and editing, video editing, social media, media relations and other special projects. Prior to joining the Committee, he worked as a news reporter for WCTI-TV, an ABC station in North Carolina. He has also spent time with The Baltimore Sun, WBAL-TV 11 News, FOX 5 DC and Capital News Service TV. Matt received his journalism degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. Contact him at bylis@crfb.org and find him on Twitter at @MattBylis.

Chris Dreibelbis is the Director of Digital and Creative Media for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where he oversees outreach for the Committee's work through social media. Prior to joining the Committee, he was the Communications and Economic Policy Director at the Reform Institute. Before that he worked at the Committee for Economic Development, where he was actively involved in their successful effort to achieve campaign finance reform and also worked on issues such as the federal budget and Social Security reform. He received his B.A. in public policy from Washington & Lee University and holds a master's in public policy from George Mason University. Contact him at dreibelbis@crfb.org.

Tyler Evilsizer is the Research Manager for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where he handles a wide variety of issues, primarily focusing on tax, budget, and economic policy. Prior to joining the Committee, he performed research on tax and budget issues for the Senate Finance Committee under Chairman Max Baucus. Before that, he served as Lead Researcher for the National Institute on Money in State Politics, the only non-profit that compiles information on state-level campaign finance in all 50 states. Tyler received a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Political Science from Carroll College in Helena, Montana, and a master's degree in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Contact him at evilsizer@crfb.org and find him on Twitter at @TylerEvilsizer.

As Senior Advisor, Finance and Operations, Simone Frank is responsible for assisting the organization with its day-to-day business, legal, financial, human resources and administrative operations. Ms. Frank has over 25 years of financial management experience, including banking, investment banking, strategic planning and operating finance.

Prior to assisting the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Ms. Frank was the Vice President of Finance and Operations for the New America Foundation for 10 years. Ms. Frank also served as Chief Financial Officer for Best Doctors, Inc., as a Senior Director of Finance for Marriott International, and as Finance Director for various operating divisions of Tricon Global Restaurants and PepsiCo, Inc. In addition, Ms. Frank started her careeer in banking as an Associate in mergers and acquisitions for Manufacturers Hanover Trust and as an Assistant Vice President for Den Danske Bank.

Ms. Frank earned her bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Marc Goldwein is the Senior Vice President and Senior Policy Director for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where he guides and conducts research on a wide array of topics related to fiscal policy and the federal budget. He is frequently quoted in a number of major media outlets and works regularly with Members of Congress and their staffs on budget-related issues.

In 2010, Marc served as Associate Director of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform (The Fiscal Commission), and in 2011 he was a senior budget analyst on the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (The Super Committee). He has also conducted research for the Government Accountability Office, the World Bank, the Historian's Office at the Social Security Administration, and the Institute of Governmental Studies at UC Berkeley. In addition to his work at the Committee, Marc teaches economics at the University of California DC and at Johns Hopkins University, where he was the 2013 recipient of Excellence in Teaching Award. In 2011, Marc was featured in the Forbes "30 Under 30" list for Law & Policy. Contact him at goldwein@crfb.org and find him on Twitter at @MarcGoldwein.

Erich Hartman is a Senior Program Associate for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where he conducts research on fiscal and economic issues and helps develop special initiatives. Prior to joining the Committee, Erich worked on entitlement and tax issues at the House Committee on Ways and Means under Chairmen Camp, Ryan, and Brady. He holds a B.A. in Economics and Government from the College of William & Mary. Contact him at hartman@crfb.org.

Ed Lorenzen is a Senior Advisor for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Prior to joining the Committee, Ed served on the staff of the Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. He is a longtime veteran of the Congressional budget process, having served as policy adviser and Legislative Director to former Congressman (and member of the Committee board) Charlie Stenholm from 1990 through 2004 and as Senior Policy Adviser for House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer from 2007 through June of 2010. Ed received his bachelor’s degree in government and international service from American University. Ed graduated from The American University in 1992 with a degree in government and international relations. He is originally from Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Contact him at lorenzen@crfb.org and find him on Twitter at @CaptainPAYGO.

Maya MacGuineas is the President of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget as well as the head of the Campaign to Fix the Debt. Her areas of expertise include budget, tax, and economic policy. MacGuineas testifies regularly before Congress and has published broadly. Once dubbed “an anti-deficit warrior” by The Wall Street Journal, MacGuineas comments often on broadcast news and is widely cited by the national press. In the spring of 2009 MacGuineas did a stint on The Washington Post editorial board, covering economic and fiscal policy. MacGuineas has worked at the Brookings Institution and on Wall Street. As a political independent, she has advised numerous candidates for office from both parties, and works regularly with members of Congress on health, economic, tax, and budget policy. Contact her at info@crfb.org and find her on Twitter @MayaMacGuineas.

Zach Moller is a Senior Policy Analyst for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where he researches economic, revenue, and budgetary issues. In addition, Zach contributes to the Committee's Better Budget Process Initiative and is a specialist in data and charts. Prior to joining the Committee, he worked on economic and revenue issues for the Senate Budget Committee under Chairs Murray and Conrad, first as economics staff assistant and then as Economic Analyst. Zach received a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in Economics from the University of Virginia. Contact him at moller@crfb.org.

Mike Murphy is Chief of Staff and Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where he manages policy research and analysis on a variety of topics related to fiscal policy and the federal budget, as well as coordinates a wide array of projects related to advancing the Committee’s policy related initiatives. Prior to joining the Committee, Mike worked for the Comeback America Initiative, a non-profit founded by David Walker, Former Comptroller General of the United States, who mission is to educate and engage the public about federal, state and local fiscal issues. Previously, Mike also worked as a Senior Transportation Program Analyst for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, as well as in legislative affairs for the American Cancer Society and on Capitol Hill. Mike received his bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science from the State University of New York at Albany, and a Masters of Public Administration and a Certificate of Health Services Management and Policy from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. Contact him at murphy@crfb.org.

Patrick Newton is the Press Secretary for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where he manages and coordinates outreach to the media. He came to the Committee from Capitol Hill, where he spent nine years on the staff of U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan, Jr. of Tennessee, serving as both Communications Director and financial services Legislative Assistant. Prior to his time on the Hill, Patrick worked as a television news anchor and reporter for KEVN-TV, a FOX affiliate in Rapid City, South Dakota, and as morning and noon anchor at WTAP-TV, an NBC station serving the Mid-Ohio Valley. He is a 2001 graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and holds a bachelor's degree in journalism. Contact him at newton@crfb.org.

Adam Rosenberg is a Policy Analyst for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where he works on a wide variety of budget and economic issues conducting research and writing reports and for the Committee's The Bottom Line blog. He graduated in 2011 from The George Washington University with a B.A. in political science and minors in economics and jazz studies. Adam is originally from Connecticut. Contact him at rosenberg@crfb.org.

Adam Shifriss is the Legislative Manager for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where he guides interactions with policymakers and staff on a wide range of issues. Adam previously worked in the U.S. House of Representatives where he handled a broad variety of issues including Energy and Commerce and Appropriations Committee work. In 2007, he contributed to a Government Accountability Office review of public infrastructure reconstruction efforts by FEMA after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Adam also has experience in health advocacy, database management, and political campaigns. He studied Public Policy Analysis at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University, where he received his bachelor's degree and the Hutton Honors notation. In addition to his work at the Committee, Adam is an active member of the board of the DC Chapter of the Indiana University Alumni Association. Contact him at shifriss@crfb.org.

Chris Towner is a Senior Research Assistant for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, where he works on the policy team to conduct analysis on a wide variety of budgetary and economic issues including health care, Social Security, disability, and campaign policy proposals. Additionally, Chris worked extensively on the McCrery-Pomeroy SSDI Solutions Initiative. Prior to joining the Committee, Chris worked in fundraising and donor relations at a political non-profit organization. Chris graduated magna cum laude with both Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in Political Science from Boston University. Contact him at towner@crfb.org.

Lucy Wall is the Database Manager for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Previously she worked as a Consultant at the Consumer Data Industry Association, as a Passport Examiner at the British Embassy, and as a teacher in the DC Public Schools. Originally from Rhode Island, Lucy holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago and a Master’s of Teaching from American University. Contact her at wall@crfb.org.